New gaming headset... (G35 vs. HS1)

Global_Inferno

Global_Inferno

Global_Inferno

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Ok, so I've currently got a set of Roccat Kaves and while I find them pretty darn good (I use them with a Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic card), I've never found them particularly comfortable.

I think it's my head's fault. It's too pointy. :rolleyes:

Anyways, I've managed to sell the Roccat's second hand to a friend and I'm considering my options.

The Logitech G35 and Corsair HS1 headsets look like the the most widely recommended, so I'd like to get some thoughts!

Also, I've seen some people recommending certain sound cards for use with headphones; obviously both of these are USB, however if I were to consider a 3.5mm jack headset + sound card combo, what should I be looking at?
 
So is the X-Fi XtremeMusic not considered a decent sound card anymore? (Was it ever!?)

Ok, I've taken a look at a few more reviews and it seems as though the Razer Carcharias might be a good purchase, it's especially commended for its comfort. However, having come from a headset with "true" 5.1, I'm a little worried about moving to a replacement with only a single 3.5mm input (ie. stereo). Are "virtual surround sound" solutions really as good these days?

If I were to buy the Razer Carcharias with the Asus Xonar DG 5.1 with the Headphone Amp, would that be a good solution? Also, I do still have 5.1 speakers, any solution I go for must still support them.
 
I use virtual surround and find it awesome for pinpointing people CS:S but it probably won't be as good as real surround sound in a headset.

But thinking about it more, the speakers inside the genuine 5.1 headsets the distance between them is going to be so minimal surely the surround sound on them is ****?

I don't know I've never used them.

As for that sound card I have no idea.

And in terms of comfort I thought the Corsairs were amazing?

They have memory foam in the headband.
 
True, true...

Ok, so I guess it's a four-way between:

- Logitech G35 (USB)
- Corsair HS1 (USB)
- Corsair HS1A (3.5mm) + Sound Card
- Razer Carcharias + Sound Card

I'd like to get some other peoples thoughts on these options; like is a sound card with a specific headphone amplifier worth me upgrading my X-Fi XtremeMusic? Can I get Dolby Headphone on my X-Fi? If not, is there anything close to it? Is is any good?

If I am to buy a new soundcard for both 5.1 and headphone use, what do people recommend?
 
Squeal of death eh!? Nope, not having any problems with it so far! So is it as good as the Xonar DG? Does my card have a headphone amp? Will that make a difference?
 
Mason- said:
I use virtual surround and find it awesome for pinpointing people CS:S but it probably won't be as good as real surround sound in a headset.

But thinking about it more, the speakers inside the genuine 5.1 headsets the distance between them is going to be so minimal surely the surround sound on them is ****?

I don't know I've never used them.

As for that sound card I have no idea.

And in terms of comfort I thought the Corsairs were amazing?

They have memory foam in the headband.
Click to expand...

I have the Roccat Kaves with the Xonar DX, and tbh, it's the best setup I've heard, the 5.1 is actually really good - if you just do a speaker test you don't notice it as much, but with Flexibass on, and the right setup in the sound card drivers, then either do a bass test mp3 (find them on google) and the vibration is wicked, but also I've got a copy of the THX test DVD, and the jungle test on that which is around 3 or 4 mins long, just makes the sound so good - you really do think the bee is buzzing around behind you etc, it's amazing.

Films and games are also equally impressive, however obviously the effects aren't always in your face like a THX demo is.
 
Virtual surround got a lot better than 5.1 headphones several years ago. Not all virtual surround is equal though. IMO, CMSS-3D Headphone on X-Fi is at least on par with the best 5.1 headphones and Dolby Headphone on Xonar far exceeds the capabilities of 5.1 headphones.

Reviews indicate that the Smith SVS Realizer is practically indistinguishable from bring in a listening room with speakers. Hopefully that tech will filter down to being affordable in a few years. (edit: reviewage... http://www.stereophile.com/content/music-round-45)

I personally think 5.1 headsets could work as well as virtualised surround if any audio was mixed for them or if a soundcard was set up to handle them. All 5.1 and 7.1 is set up for speakers though and lots of little drivers strapped to your ears will never be more than a rough approximation without further digital processing. As digital processing can already do a more than decent job with stereo headphones I don't see any real demand for this whatsoever.
 
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I have the HS1. As it is USB you can plug in into a front USB port without peeing about round the back with audio cables every time you want to use the headphones.

The HS1 is very good. My brother got the Roccat Kaves at the same time as me. I have only heard music on them but the HS1 was better. The HS1 is much comfier too.
 
I'm quite interested in the HS1A. The original HS1 was designed for Dolby Headphone and to have it in an analogue version that would be usable with a decent soundcard or receiver might actually be a brilliant solution.
 
I already have the Roccat Kaves like I said, but they are just too heavy on the top bridge of my head. They get *very* uncomfortable after an hour or so.

Interesting that icehot666 you like the vibration of the kave's... In the year I've owned them I have never, ever, felt them vibrate or seem particularly bass-y. Perhaps theres something wrong with mine? Or the sound card?

Nobody seems to have answered my question about headphone amplifiers, so I'll ask again:

a) Does my X-Fi Xtreme Music have a headphone amp?
b) Do all the Asus Xonar range have one? (Other than the DG which I know does, eg. the DX 7.1?)
c) What difference does it make!?
 
a) no
b) Only the DG, the ST and the STX have a headphone amp built in (the amp in the latter to is considerably higher quality).
c) Depends on which headphones you use. Very little for the Kaves I would imagine as they are stereo amps. Ordinarily they can improve sound quality, make the headphones go louder or both. Some headphones do come close to their potential just driven from a soundcard line out though.

I have heard something about a design revision for the Kaves, adding vibration. Maybe older models don't include it?
 
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Thanks Uriel!

So, either I change my soundcard for one that supports Dolby Headphone and with a headphone amp OR I keep what I've got and use CMSS-3D. (Any opinions on which sounds better?)

Then I need a NON-USB headset, so HS1A/Carcharias/etc.
 
I think Dolby Headphone sounds miles better than CMSS-3D headphone but there are other advantages to positional audio on X-Fi which only work up to 4.0/4.1 (e.g MacroFX and Elevation). As a result I use Optical out encoded to 4.0 from an X-Fi Prelude to an external receiver that does the Dolby Headphone for me. Best of both worlds.

Unfortunately the original retail Xtreme Music required an adaptor that is no longer made by Creative to have optical out so external receiver isn't an easy Option. To get it working you also need to buy some software from Creative (for US$5).

IMO X-Fi is still better for gaming, it's just that Xonar has more convincing positional audio over headphones. As games with hardware audio are getting rarer though, the difference isn't that pronounced any more.
 
It does seem somehow that we are taking a few steps back in the game-sound world recently. It's sooooo confusing how to set it all up too!

So, I plug my headset into the Front L/R 3.5mm on my X-Fi, I set it to use CMSS-3D Headphone, set my windows speaker config to 5.1 and in-game to 5.1? That about right?
 
Global_Inferno said:
I already have the Roccat Kaves like I said, but they are just too heavy on the top bridge of my head. They get *very* uncomfortable after an hour or so.

Interesting that icehot666 you like the vibration of the kave's... In the year I've owned them I have never, ever, felt them vibrate or seem particularly bass-y. Perhaps theres something wrong with mine? Or the sound card?

Nobody seems to have answered my question about headphone amplifiers, so I'll ask again:

a) Does my X-Fi Xtreme Music have a headphone amp?
b) Do all the Asus Xonar range have one? (Other than the DG which I know does, eg. the DX 7.1?)
c) What difference does it make!?
Click to expand...

They only vibrate when you turn on Flexbass, which is an Asus phrase for basically sending low frequencies to a sub-woofer, so I set all the speakers to "small" so that bass is never sent to them, and only to the sub unit:

low_frequency_crossover.jpg


Can't comment on the headphone amps though sorry, the DX might have one, don't really know, the headphones are loud enough?
 
Kaves - (Wearing pair now) are very very good, Deep bass, amazing for pin point location in games (saved me many times) very good build and nice material but very large indeed. Music does sound fantastic on these.

HS1 - (From Memory of wearing) Very comfy and build from Corsair, crystal microphone quality & sound is very good. Lacks slight definition on the bass, but does what it says on the tin. Very worthy headset.

G35 - (wearing a pair now) Sit very comfy on the head and dont feel too tight. Build is also fantastic, braided cable is great for non tangles ( same as HS1 ) bass feels boomy, which is good not so much as the Kaves though. For gaming is very precise again and feels close with action. The driver application can increase the bass & dobly 7.1 virtual s/s is pretty awesome. Logitech never fail at gaming peripherals.

Overall all 3 are fantastic, you already have the Kaves so that is out the choice. My personal preference would be going for the G35s (also cheapest in UK on these) But the Corsair are also fantastic, more comfortable :)
 
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